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KARACHI, June 28: A Rs439.856 million Jamshed Town budget for the fiscal 2004-05 was presented in its council by the Town Nazim Ahmed Qasim Parekh.
According to the budget documents, the town's estimated income is Rs439.856 million as against its total expenditures of Rs434.316m, indicating a surplus of Rs5.5 million.
A huge amount of Rs251 million has been earmarked for non-developmental expenses, which comes to 57.16 per cent of the town's total budget, as against Rs182.870m (41.58 pc) allocated for development works.
Unfolding the details of the budget, the town nazim told the council members that Rs135 million (30.70pc) will be spent under the head of establishment, Rs111.56m (25.36pc) have been allocated for contingencies and Rs4.82m (1.1pc) for maintenance.
Giving the sector-wise break up of the allocation, he said that Rs238.849 million have been earmarked for communications; Rs135.365 million for sanitation and solid waste management; Rs34 million for improvement and development of parks and other services and Rs25.871 million for the Town Municipal Administration services.
Highlighting the salient features of the town's budget, he said that the development works included construction, carpeting and improvement of main roads, besides internal and external streets and footpaths, installation of street lights, development of parks and playgrounds, beatification of parks and purchase of spray machine and grip crane generators.
About the town's sources of income during 2004-05, he said that these included Rs50 million fund to be transferred to the town from the city government, and Rs331 million from Sindh government and another Rs37.477 million which would be generated by the town from its own resources.
KESC CRITICIZED: Criticizing the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation for charging commercial rates from towns for providing electricity for street lights, Mr Parekh deplored that it was because of high commercial rates being charged by the power utility that the town's 2003-04 contingency budget jumped to Rs135 million as against Rs53 million last year.
He said that the TMA also had a right to demand land-use charges from the KESC for installing its electric poles and transformers on the town's land, adding that the town would shortly approve a resolution in this regard and would urge the government to compel the KESC to pay land-use charges to the town.
He said that he would strive hard to get more funds for the development of the town from both the city and Sindh governments. The town's budget session was presided over by its Naib Nazim Ashfaq Ahmed Mujahid, besides senior officers.
